Patrick Kane to the Rangers is official.
After over a week of reports and rumors tying the star to the Big Apple, the Rangers and Blackhawks conducted three-team trade call to finalize the deal, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. The move was confirmed hours later by both Chicago and New York.
Breaking: It's Showtime.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 28, 2023
Sources tell @DailyFaceoff: #NYR expected to acquire Patrick Kane for 2023 2nd Rd Pick (can become a 1st) and a 4th Rd Pick. #NYR and #Blackhawks plan to conduct 3-team trade call tonight.
Possible Kane makes #NYR debut Wed in Philadelphia vs. #Flyers. pic.twitter.com/GsNeQlk48E
It is the second major acquisition by Rangers general manager Chris Drury at this year's deadline. He previously brought in winger Vladimir Tarasenko in a deal with the Blues, which Kane himself voiced his displeasure about since the Rangers were one of the trade destinations he had his eyes set on.
However, the Rangers made the necessary secondary moves to make space for the veteran forward. It now gives the club one of the most talented top-six forward groups in the league.
Kane, 34, skated in 54 games this season with Chicago. He registered 16 goals and 29 assists, good for 45 points which ranked second on the team behind only Max Domi.
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Unless he elects to re-sign with the Blackhawks, this marks the end of the Kane era in Chicago. He ends his career winning three Stanley Cups with the team while skating in 1,161 games. He scored 446 goals as a Blackhawk, and dished out 779 assists.
Patrick Kane trade details
- Rangers receive: F Patrick Kane, D Cooper Zech
- Blackhawks receive: D Andy Welinski, D Vili Saarijarvi, 2023 conditional 2nd-round pick, 2025 4th-round pick
- Coyotes receive: 2025 3rd-round pick (Rangers)
The reported return from Seravalli is a 2023 conditional 2nd-round pick and a 2023 4th-round pick. The selection in the second round can become a first.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added that the condition on the second-rounder coming to the Blackhawks would become a first if the Rangers win two rounds in the playoffs. If that's the case, the pick would move to 2024 or 2025.
The addition of Kane gives the Rangers an immense amount of skill for their top two lines. He has reunited once again with Artemi Panarin, as the two were a force during the 2015-16 season which led to Kane's Art Ross and Hart Trophy wins.
New York can field a top-six forward group of Kane, Tarasenko, Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck. While the team more than likely is going to give up more in its own end with those lines, there is a lot of creativity that can be done on offense.
It's not the return that was expected for a player of Kane's caliber. With Kane's no-trade clause, it forced the Blackhawks' hand. Kane reportedly only was interested in waiving his clause to go to the Rangers, and as a result, limited the return for Chicago.
Patrick Kane contract details
Kane is in the final year of his eight-year, $84 million contract he signed with the Blackhawks in 2015. He carries a cap hit of $10.5 million this year.
Both the Blackhawks (50%) and the Coyotes (25%) are expected to take on salary in the deal. The Rangers are anticipated to be on the books for the other 25% of Kane's cap hit.
He is going to be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season.
